She said she and her son and daughter attended the first inquiry hearing in Westminster on Monday, which began with a video commemoration to those who had died, after which attendees could place a message to loved ones at the front.

“The collective grief was so powerful and we were so emotional,” she said.

“In the afternoon the Chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, gave a very well thought out introduction mentioning that it was known in 1975 that this blood was contaminated. So many people including my husband, Chris, were infected in the 1980s.

“We are all just hoping for the truth to come out and the answers as to how this could have happened.

“As this is a public inquiry people will be forced to give evidence. It may take from two to five years and so we are in for a long haul.”